Podcasts about Jewish identity

Aaron Bandler joins Something For Everybody this week. Aaron is a U.S. National Correspondent for Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), where he reports on stories of national relevance—related to Israel, antisemitism, and other issues of interest to the Jewish community. In this conversation, Aaron discusses the current state of anti-Israel sentiment, particularly on college campuses, and the influence of foreign funding, especially from Qatar. He delves into the misrepresentation of Zionism and the importance of U.S.-Israel relations. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the bias present in Wikipedia, how it affects public perception, and the challenges of correcting misinformation. -

Episode 243 of The Truth Response.What is Messianic Judaism, and how does faith in Jesus connect with Jewish identity and tradition? In this episode, we sit down with Hadassa to hear her personal journey of discovering her Jewish heritage while remaining rooted in faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah.Together, we explore the role of the Torah in a believer's life, the difference between identity and salvation, and the important truth that faith in Christ alone saves. The conversation also addresses common misunderstandings about Messianic believers and wrestles with important questions about calling, heritage, and how the Old Testament still shapes our understanding of God today.Clarity in chaos. Bringing hope to a chaotic world. This episode offers thoughtful perspective, biblical clarity, and a reminder that what matters most is not religious performance, but a heart fully anchored in Christ.

In a widely discussed interview with Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Tucker Carlson raised fundamental questions about Jewish identity:Is Judaism a religion or an ethnicity?Can converts truly belong?Should DNA determine who has a claim to Israel?And does the Bible provide legitimate grounds for Jewish connection to the land?These are not merely political questions. They go to the heart of Jewish peoplehood.In this episode of Proudly Jewish, Rabbi Eyal Bitton examines three key moments from the interview and explains why Jewish identity cannot be reduced to race, religion, or modern Western categories — and why exile does not erase indigeneity.Questioning whether Jews are really a people is not criticism of Israel — it's something else entirely.***0:00 Introduction – The Interview Everyone Is Talking About 0:35 When the Conversation Shifts to Jewish Identity 1:16 What Exactly Is a Jew? 4:14 The Category Trap: Religion or Ethnicity? 4:46 Jewish Identity Explained – A Covenantal People 5:45 Yahadut vs. “Judaism” – Nationhood Before Modern Categories 7:09 Asking for Genetic Proof 9:56 DNA and the Question of Legitimacy 10:51 A Double Standard for Jews 11:17 The Audacity of Questioning Jewish Peoplehood 13:00 What Happens If We Fail the Test? 14:08 Why This Isn't Theoretical 22:11 Jewish Identity Needs No External Certification 23:24 A Joinable People – Ruth and King David 23:45 A Living Civilization – We Are a People***With clips from Tucker Carlson's interview with Amb. Mike Huckabee, entitled "Tucker Confronts Mike Huckabee on America's Toxic Relationship With Israel." Yes, he really called it that! https://youtu.be/XS7itdfgNnU?si=VvTN5fsTK5D4C-80 

In this episode of Opinionated, I speak with Bret Stephens, who reflects on how Jews have the “honor of being hated,” a realization that struck him on October 8th during a Times Square demonstration. We discuss how this perspective underscores the need for Jews to build resilient institutions and a strong sense of identity. I then talk with Dan Perry about Israel's difficult choices in the Palestinian territories, weighing the realities of Hamas, occupation, and the Palestinian Authority, and the necessity of pragmatic decisions to protect Israeli lives. Finally, I offer a personal commentary on the broader implications for Jewish communities worldwide and the urgency of Israel achieving decisive security. Support the showThe MirYam Institute. Israel's Future in Israel's Hands.Subscribe to our podcast: https://podfollow.com/1493910771Follow The MirYam Institute X: https://bit.ly/3jkeUyxFollow Benjamin Anthony X: https://bit.ly/3hZeOe9Like Benjamin Anthony Facebook: https://bit.ly/333Ct93Like The MirYam Institute Facebook: https://bit.ly/2SarHI3Follow Benjamin Anthony Instagram: https://bit.ly/30m6uPGFollow The MirYam Institute Instagram: https://bit.ly/3l5fvED

What does it mean to be Jewish? A new initiative in Wisconsin schools explores just that.

Note: This podcast is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_J8I4ZB72bo This is the kind of conversation about Israel and Palestine you won't hear anywhere else. Rabbi Sid Schwarz, founding rabbi of Congregation Adat Shalom and longtime progressive Zionist, and Sam Sherman, a playwright, actor, and anti-Zionist activist who grew up in Schwarz's congregation, model how to engage in respectful dialogue across profound ideological differences about Israel and Palestine. Schwarz discusses his decades-long commitment to what he calls "spiritual Zionism"—affirming Israel's right to exist while vocally opposing policies that violate Jewish values. Sherman explains his anti-Zionist position rooted in concern for Palestinian dignity and opposition to what he sees as institutionalized Jewish supremacy. Despite their disagreements on the meaning of Zionism, the legitimacy of violence, and the future of the region, both speakers demonstrate deep respect, genuine curiosity, and a commitment to staying in relationship. As Sam prepares to return to the West Bank to work with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, this conversation offers a rare and moving example of how Jews across generational and ideological divides can engage with empathy, learn from each other, and remain part of the same Jewish community even when fundamental disagreements persist. Theme song, “Ilu Finu” by Rabbi Miriam Margles. Her album This is the Day is available for purchase at CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/miriammarglesandthehadarensemb Visit our home on the web — Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations: http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org Subscribe by Email at http://subscribebyemail.com/evolve.fireside.fm/rss Read these show notes on the web at https://evolve.fireside.fm/1 This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guests: Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Ph.D. and Sam Sherman.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TcIvsLyyFMM Follow us on social media and join Patreon to get more of Unholy: https://linktr.ee/unholypod As Israel receives the body of Rani Gvilli, the last remaining hostage held in Gaza since October 7, a painful chapter closes — and a new, uncertain one begins: for the first time since 2014, there are no Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Meanwhile, the world looks to Washington, waiting to see when, where and whether Donald Trump will order a strike against Iran. Yonit and Jonathan unpack what this new reality means — for Israel, for the region and for a war that refuses to end cleanly. They also examine Benjamin Netanyahu's latest accusation - that Israeli soldiers lost their lives because of what he called an “arms embargo” imposed by Joe Biden - and why he made it now. Plus: Listeners' Therapy returns. Unholy is joined once again by renowned psychotherapist Dr Orna Guralnik for a second session — this time with Lee and Marion, an American-Israeli couple wrestling with a question that has become agonisingly familiar to many Jewish families: where should we raise our children? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Streamed live on Jan 20, 2026 2026 TUC BUDGET (Paleo Hebrew Scriptures): https://www.givesendgo.com/The-Paleo-... Contact: noelhadley@yahoo.com Patreon:   / membership   PayPal: paypal.me/noeljoshuahadley Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/Noel-Hadley TUC Store: https://store.theunexpectedcosmology.... 2026 TUC Catalogue: https://unexpected-cosmology.nyc3.dig... Website: The Unexpected Cosmology Link: https://theunexpectedcosmology.com/ Archives page: https://theunexpectedcosmology.com/ar... TUC Discord Community:   / discord   TUC 2 YouTube:    / @theunexpectedcosmology2   Hebrew Match Dating: https://www.hebrewmatch.com/ Shelves of Shalom Publishing: https://shelvesofshalompublishing.com/

Survival in Golus Is Only by Keeping Your Jewish Identity (Shemos 5786)

Send us a textIn this episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Angela Costley, a Hebrew Catholic theologian and Scripture professor based in the UK, to talk about what it means to be both Jewish and Catholic—not as a contradiction, but as a fulfillment.We discuss why the phrase “Jewish Catholic” can sound confusing at first, how the Church is grafted onto the “olive tree” of Israel (Romans 9–11), what Vatican II helped recover about the Church's relationship to the Jewish people, and why Hebrew Catholics need space to live their Jewish identity faithfully within the Church.This conversation draws from Dr. Costley's work as co-editor of From Sinai to Rome: Jewish Identity in the Catholic Church—a book that doesn't shy away from the painful history of Jewish-Catholic relations, while also offering real hope for the future.About Dr. Angela CostleyHebrew Catholic theologian based in the UKScripture professor at St Mary's College (seminary)Studied at Durham, Oxford, and earned her PhD at the Pontifical University in MaynoothBoard member of the Association of Hebrew CatholicsIn this episode, we talk about:What a “Jewish Catholic” is (and why it isn't a contradiction)Why Catholicism can be understood as the heir of “Temple Judaism” fulfilled in ChristThe Mass and the fulfillment of temple worship and offerings“Salvation comes from the Jews” (John 4:22) and what Catholics should do with thatRomans 9–11 and the image of the olive tree (Israel as root; Gentiles grafted in)Why the Church isn't a “new Israel,” but Israel in fulfillmentJewish identity as personal and collective (and why assimilation can be spiritually damaging)The Association of Hebrew Catholics and the need for community and witnessFacing hard history: antisemitism, misunderstandings, and doctrinal developmentWhy friendship and dialogue matter for healing and authentic witness todayHope in Romans 11 (“all Israel will be saved”) and what that means going forwardDr. Costley's “Mount Rushmore of saints,” her hoped-for patronage, and how to pray for herGet the Book

How do we stay invested in Israel when it exhausts and challenges us? In this episode of TEXTing IRL, recorded live at the Shalom Hartman Institute's Winter Leadership Conference, Elana Stein Hain welcomes Ronit Heyd, Hartman Vice President and Director of the Center for Israeli & Jewish Identity, to read the work of Amos Oz and to discuss why relationships between Israelis and within the Jewish people must be committed: loving, honest, and critical. We are grateful to Micah Philanthropies and the Walder Charitable Trust for their generous support of TEXTing IRL. Episode Source Sheet Watch the video version of this episode ⁠here⁠. You can now sponsor an episode of TEXTing. Click HERE to learn more.  Missed the Winter Leadership Conference? Join us at the Florida Leadership Conference and our flagship Community Leadership Program! ⁠JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS⁠

B"H Moshe was Jewish by lineage, but for him it wasn't simple. He grew up in Pharaoh's palace, surrounded by power and comfort, and at a crucial moment in his life he had to decide where he stood. That question followed him through Midian and came into full focus at the burning bush. By then, Moshe made his choice clearly. He chose to stand with his people. That question still lives today. Each of us is asked, in our own way, to stand with Am Yisrael and to embrace who we are. Am Yisrael Chai. #Parsha #Torah #Israel #Judaism #Bible To watch Torah Thoughts in video format, click HERE Subscribe to the Torah Thoughts BLOG for exclusive written content! Please like, share and subscribe wherever you find this!

On Dec. 9, 2025, The CJN teamed up with the Shalom Hartman Institute and two synagogues in Toronto—Beth Tzedec and Holy Blossom Temple—to host a live event called Pathways to Hope, a conversation with young Israeli changemakers. The Hartman Institute runs a project called Hazon, which mentors Israeli university students who are also active in their campus's pro-democracy movement, among other social justice issues in Israel.  Two of the students, Yonathan Machlis and Ayala Dahan, along with Hartman's director of the Center for Israeli & Jewish Identity, Ronit Heyd, joined North Star producer Zachary Kauffman for a panel discussion about what gives them hope amid a challenging time for Israeli democracy. The panel also shares their vision for Israel's future and what it means to enact democracy as the Jewish State heads towards an election in October.  Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner ) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Andrea Varsany (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Bret Higgins Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to North Star (Not sure how? Click here )

Yonit and Jonathan explore the intersection of Jewish identity and Christmas traditions, discussing how Jews navigate the holiday season, the cultural significance of Christmas in Israel, and the impact of Christmas films on perceptions of the holiday. They delve into the complexities of assimilation, the evolution of Jewish customs around Christmas, and the portrayal of Christmas in popular culture. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Proverbs 27:20-22 Getting bored, God's investing in you, how to influence people, Jewish identity and Chanukah Insights

In this engaging podcast episode, the hosts reflect on themes of hope, resilience, and the importance of storytelling. They dedicate the episode to Matilda B, a young girl whose tragic story resonates deeply. The conversation flows through personal anecdotes about birthdays, newfound appreciation for Taylor Swift, and the impact of Zarna's memoir. They also discuss fashion trends, consumer culture, and the joy of shopping, all while emphasizing the significance of sharing stories and connecting with others. In this lively conversation, the hosts explore various themes related to parenting, childhood memories, family traditions, and personal interests. They share humorous anecdotes about their kids, discuss the impact of popular children's shows like Bluey, and reminisce about their own childhood experiences. The conversation also touches on gift-giving dynamics within families, the joys of playing with children, and the emotional connections to music. Additionally, they delve into TikTok trends, makeup tips, and the significance of Hanukkah celebrations, all while maintaining a light-hearted and engaging tone._______________________________________________________________________________________________Thank you to our sponsors:Sincerely Sarit: follow @sincerelysarit on instagramTopaz and Ruby: visit www.topazandruby.com or follow @topazandruby on instagramMosaica Press: visit www.mosaicapress.com or follow @mosaicapress on instagram_______________________________________________________________________________________________00:00 Introduction and Context Setting01:46 Reflections on Jewish Identity and Safety04:31 Celebrating Birthdays and the Passage of Time13:55 Discussion on Zarna's Book and Personal Stories16:27 Life's Ups and Downs: A Memoir Reflection17:09 Finding Community: The Jewish Experience18:13 The Power of Storytelling and Connection20:04 The Joy of Memoirs and Life Stories20:58 Fashion Trends: Brooches and Beyond22:48 2026 Trend Predictions: A Look Ahead25:09 The Return of Pen Pals and Personal Touches26:43 Shopping Adventures: Thrifting and Designer Finds28:27 Parenting Challenges: Book Choices and Birthday Parties34:18 Flossing and Family Fun36:21 Toys and Language Development39:12 Childhood Memories and Palindromes41:51 Vacation Stories and Family Traditions44:30 Sharing and Kindness in School47:20 Gift Giving and Family Celebrations49:20 Playing with Kids and Family Activities51:14 Music Preferences and Podcasting Culture51:57 The Bitmoji Incident54:15 Dating Advice and Community Concerns55:05 TikTok Shopping Experiences59:00 Makeup Techniques and Trends01:01:49 Party Themes and Nostalgia01:04:32 Cooking Hacks and Tips01:05:10 Jewelry and Book Recommendations01:06:26 Wrap-Up and Future Plans_______________________________________________________________________________________________SAGC NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

The Chanukah miracle is about preserving the organic Jewish spirit.

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Dan Sered, Chief Operating Officer of Jews for Jesus and Lausanne Catalyst for Jewish Evangelism, shares his remarkable journey from a secular Jewish home in Israel to discovering Jesus as Messiah while studying in New York City. Jason and Dan explore the meaning of Messianic Jewish identity, how the gospel can be shared in culturally meaningful ways with Jewish people, and why peacemaking—not political partisanship—is the calling of every follower of Jesus. Dan also offers profound reflections on the Israel–Palestine conflict, the Church's responsibility during times of polarization, and how Jewish and Gentile believers can together bear witness to the hope of the gospel.

Torah Class - Chanukah: The Battle for Jewish IdentityWhy did the Greeks defile the oil in the Temple, and what does this teach us about the Torah and Jewish identity?

In preparation for Hanukkah, Mijal sits down with her friend and bestselling author Sarah Hurwitz to rediscover the holiday's deeper meaning. Together they explore the grown-up story of the Maccabees, the complexities of assimilation and resistance, and how Hanukkah's themes echo the identity struggles facing Jews today. Drawing on insights from Here All Along and As a Jew, Sarah reflects on courage, community, and what it means to live proudly and unapologetically Jewish in 2025. Here is Sarah Hurwitz's website with links to her books and bio: https://www.sarahhurwitz.net/ Here All Along As a Jew We're proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here: https://simchattorahchallenge.org/ https://www.sefaria.org/texts Note: Noam was traveling at the time of this recording. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Today we discuss four elements that were instructed before we departed Egypt. These are four building blocks of Jewish Identity:1. Jewish Time2. Family and the Jewish Home3. Choosing to be Jewish4. Hippazon. The Speed of Redemption - Window of Opportunity.

Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro is the author of five books, most recently The Empty Wagon: Zionism's Journey from Identity Crisis to Identity Theft, a 1381-page treatise on the opposition of Zionism to Judaism. He serves on the Board of Directors of International Council for Middle East Studies, and has spoken around the world. Sponsors: Omaha Steaks: Use code WOODS for $35 off your order! CrowdHealth Monetary Metals Guest's YouTube Channel: Yaakov Shapiro   Show notes for Ep. 2709   The Tom Woods Show is produced by Podsworth Media. Check out the Podsworth App: Use code WOODS50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Tom Woods Show! My full Podsworth ad read BEFORE & AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/tIlZWkm8Syk

Reuben Kaye has always known he was going to be a performer and grew up a house that encouraged his love of the limelight.  But in the background was the weight of his family history full of complicated characters and stories of cruelty.Reuben's parent both came from Jewish European families who were forced to flee their homes because of World War 2.  And there were other more secretive stories, involving a return to Communist East Germany and a heartbreaking decision made by Alfreda as a young woman.But Reuben has used the art of cabaret to help make sense of and pay tribute to his momentous family stories.Reuben Kaye's one man show is called EnGORGED and tickets are available via Reuben Kaye's websiteThis episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, executive producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores family history, Nazi Germany, East Germany, persecution, Russia, immigration, dress making, grief, suicide, divorce, cancer, queer identity, bullying, Jewish history, Jewish identity, the Holocaust, musical theatre, drug use, London, death, funerals, live shows, comedy, make up, drag, Stolpersteine, stumbling stones, Melbourne, Leipzig.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Welcome back to Inside the Epicenter. In this episode, “Caring for the Needy in Israel’s Darkest Hour,” hosts Joel and Lynn Rosenberg share powerful stories of how the Joshua Fund and its partners are providing urgent relief to families across Israel amid ongoing conflict. You’ll hear firsthand how local Jewish and Arab congregations are delivering safe shelter, hot meals, and essential supplies—serving as the hands and feet of Jesus in a time of unprecedented need. Special guests Victor Kalisher and Ray join the conversation, offering insight into the unique approach of working through local congregations and the biblical mandate behind this work. Discover how compassionate, behind-the-scenes outreach is opening hearts, creating lasting testimony, and bringing hope to the region’s most vulnerable. If you want to know how practical love and faithful generosity are making a difference in Israel, this episode is for you. (00:02) Helping Israel During Dark Times(06:36) Caring for the Needy(09:26) Jewish Identity and Sacrifice(12:41) Cultural Aid and Community Support(14:47) Josh Fund Supports Pro-Life Families(18:44) The Joshua Fund's Impact(22:03) "Spreading Love Through Aid Delivery"(24:49) "Trusting God Amid Challenges"(27:36) "Stay Watchful, Stay Prayerful" Learn more about The Joshua Fund: JoshuaFund.comMake a tax-deductible donation: Donate | The Joshua FundStock Media provided by DimmySad / Pond5 Verse of the Day: Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. Pray for strength and safety for local pastors, congregations, and Joshua Fund partners as they serve communities under the threat of rockets and violence.Pray for displaced families, mothers, fathers, and children to find both physical shelter and the eternal refuge of Christ. And finally, Pray for greater resources so that the humanitarian outreach of the Joshua Fund can expand, meeting urgent needs while leaving a lasting testimony of God's love. Related Episodes:Strength for Women & Families in a Time of War #322Ambassador Yechiel Leiter - Historic Gaza Hostage Deal #321Alaska Epicenter Cruise Session 2: Why Jews & Muslims are Coming to Jesus in Record Numbers #311Crises for Christians in Israel, Gaza & West Bank? The True Story #303 Donate a generous monthly gift to The Joshua Fund to bless Israel and Her Neighbors now and for the long haul. Become an Epicenter Ally today! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

My guest this episode is Lynne Golodner, a former journalist who built a successful marketing business before deciding to make creative writing her priority. She now writes full time, runs her own publishing imprint, and helps other writers gain the confidence to tell their stories. Her novels weave Jewish identity into contemporary life, and she's found freedom and success as an independent author. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Howard Lovy has been a journalist for 40 years and now amplifies the voices of independent author-publishers and works with authors as a developmental editor. Find Howard at howardlovy.com, LinkedIn, and X. About the Guest Lynne Golodner is the award-winning author of twelve bestselling books and hundreds of essays and articles, as well as a marketing expert, writing coach, and retreat leader. With an MFA in poetry, she has lived in New York and Washington, D.C., and eventually settled in her Detroit hometown, where she raised four children and now lives with her husband, Dan.

We discuss the historical context of Jewish identity, the impact of anti-Zionism on Jewish communities, and the challenges of navigating conversations surrounding these topics. - 00:00 The Importance of Israel in Jewish Identity 03:11 Personal Connections and the Impact of October 7th 06:35 Understanding Jewish Identity Beyond Religion 09:21 The Historical Context of Jewish Identity 12:07 The Misconception of Arab Jews 14:41 Colonization and Identity 17:49 Immigration Stories and Resilience 20:27 The Need for Better Representation 24:53 Zionism: A Misunderstood Concept - See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://everybodyspod.com/deals/ - Shop For Everybody  Use code SFE10 for 10% OFF

"To me, that ark is: engaging deeply with our traditions. It's reclaiming some of what we lost when we were assimilating and trying to fit in. We have thousands of years of text that have such wisdom about the human condition, about how to be a good person, and lead a worthy life . . . What we can really do is, we can be Jews. And to be a Jew has always been to be different." Sarah Hurwitz—former White House speechwriter and New York Times bestselling author of Here All Along—returns to People of the Pod to discuss her new book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us. Hurwitz reflects on why antisemitism remains, in her words, "the least mysterious phenomenon," and how Jews can reclaim pride, wisdom, and purpose through Jewish text, practice, and community. Drawing from her work as a hospital chaplain and her conversations with Jewish students on campus, she makes a powerful case for reconnecting with the depth and resilience of Jewish tradition. Key Resources: AJC's Translate Hate Glossary AJC's Efforts to Support the Hostages Listen – AJC Podcasts: Architects of Peace The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman:     During the Obama administration, Sarah Hurwitz served as senior speech writer for President Barack Obama and chief speech writer for First Lady Michelle Obama. But after she left the White House, she did a little bit of soul searching, and in her mid 30s, reconnected with her Judaism. She wrote about it in a book titled Here All Along, and joined us at the time to talk about it. Sarah has returned with us this week to talk about the book that followed, titled As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.  Sarah, welcome back to People of the Pod. Sarah Hurwitz:  Thank you so much. I'm thrilled to be here. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So your title has a very powerful accusation. So tell us who is blaming, shaming and trying to erase us? Sarah Hurwitz:   Yeah. So, you know, it's funny. My first book, as you know, was this love letter toJudaism. This, this journey of discovery of Jewish tradition, and I loved it so much, and I wanted to share it. You know, as I was writing it, I was thinking, Oh, where has this been all my life. Kind of a lovely, almost rhetorical question. But after it came out, a few things kind of happened that made me actually ask that question more seriously. Like, Wait, why did I not see any of the 4000 years of Jewish wisdom growing up?  The first thing was, I trained to be a volunteer hospital chaplain, and you know, chaplaincy is multifaith, open to chaplains of all backgrounds. But you know, the training was kind of weirdly Christian. You know, we would talk about our ministry and our theology. And I was told that prayer is God, please heal so and so who's right here in front of me, and I'm just making this prayer up spontaneously, and they can hear me, and that's prayer. And everyone prays that way, I was told. I said, You know that that's not really a common form of Jewish prayer. But I was told, No, no, as long as you don't say Jesus, it is universal. That's interesting.  And then something else that happened is I visited a college campus probably a year before October 7, and I was talking to students there at the Hillel, talking to a bunch of Jewish students. And one of them asked me, What did you do to respond to antisemitism when you were in college? And I was so stunned, I didn't even understand the question at first. And then I said, I didn't, not once, never. Not a single time did I deal with antisemitism.  And the kids just looked kind of shocked, like they didn't believe me. And they started sharing stories of the antisemitism they were facing on campus. And I thought, uh oh, something's going on here. And then I really began kind of taking a deep dive into my identity.  Of like, wait, so why did I spend my whole life being like, oh, I'm just a cultural Jew. I knew nothing about Jewish culture. Which is a beautiful way to be Jewish, being a cultural Jew, but I knew nothing about history, language, anything like that. When I said I'm an ethnic Jew, but Jews are of every ethnicity, so that's nonsense.  Or I'd say social justice is my Judaism, but I didn't know anything about what Judaism said about social justice. Unlike these wonderful Jews who do know about social justice and spend their lives acting out Jewish social justice.  And so I took a deep dive into history, and what I discovered was 2000 years of antisemitism and anti-Judaism and 200 years of Jews in Western Europe in a very understandable attempt to escape that persecution, kind of erasing many of our traditions. And I think that was kind of my answer to, where has this been all my life? And also my answer to, why did I have such an apologetic Jewish identity for so much of my life? Manya Brachear Pashman:     In my introduction, I left off half the title of your first book because it was very long, but I am curious, kind of, when did you realize . . . well, let me give the full title of your book, it's Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).  So I guess, how was that delayed connection to Judaism, can you elaborate a little bit more about how it was tied to these forces that you just talked about? Sarah Hurwitz:  Yeah, so, you know, something that I didn't really fully understand, I had intimations of this, but didn't really understand this, is that, you know, 2000 years ago, early Christianity very much defined itself against Judaism. There was actually a name for this, the Aversos Judeos tradition, which means against the Jews in Latin.  And you know, early Church Fathers very much were defining Christianity against Judaism, because back then, both of these traditions had originated from Judaism. And you know they parted ways at some point, and the Church Fathers were really trying to distinguish Christianity from Judaism, and to get people to stop kind of practicing both traditions. This tradition really continues with Judaism defined as unspiritual, legalistic, depraved, dead, spiritually superseded. A lot of very, very ugly tropes that kind of have common themes that say that Jews are diabolically powerful, so supernaturally powerful, you can't even believe it. They are also profoundly depraved, evil, bloodthirsty, perverse, and they're in a conspiracy to hurt you. So there may be very few of them, but man, they are working together to really do harm.  And you see these three themes kind of making their way through history, unfortunately, all the way basically, until the Holocaust. And I based a lot of my writing on the work of a number of really distinguished Christian scholars who make this argument. It's actually a pretty common argument among Christian scholars.  And, you know, in recent decades, the church has very much disavowed its historic anti-Judaism and has worked very hard to, you know, fight antisemitism in the church. But, you know, these things really did kind of continue on through the 20th century. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So you do describe in your book moments when you got oddly defensive about your Judaism, or perhaps a bit revisionist about Jewish history and the origin of Jewish traditions, or the reason why they exist now in modern day. Can you elaborate on some of those moments for our listeners and explain how you've self-corrected thatdefense? Sarah Hurwitz:  You know, I think a lot of it took the form of, oh, I'm Jewish, but not that Jewish. It was just sort of this immediate, but I'm not one of those Jews. You know, those really Jewish Jews. Well, I'm sorry, would it be a problem if I were? What if social justice wasn't my Judaism, but Judaism was my Judaism? Would that be okay? You know, just beginning to notice, like, Why am I always kind of pushing it away, claiming that I'm not too Jewish? That's a very strange way to announce someone's identity. I think, you know, Dara Horn has actually a really, quite an amazing essay called The Cool Kids, and she talks about these two different types of antisemitism. And one is this kind of eliminationist antisemitism which says the Jews are bad, there's nothing they can do to be good. We must kill them. And you know, that is the Holocaust, pogroms. We learn about that kind of antisemitism in school. But there's another kind of antisemitism, which is conversionist, which says, yes, the Jews are bad, but there is something they can do to be okay and saved. And that is, they can disavow whatever we, the majority, find disgusting about Jewish civilization.  So you know, back in the day, it was, reject Jewish religion and convert to Christianity, and you'll be saved, maybe. For some amount of time, possibly. In my parents and grandparents generation, it was, you know, reject your last name, get a nose job. Stop being so "Jewy", be a little bit more "waspy," and then maybe we'll let you into our club. Then maybe we'll accept you.  And today, what you see is you have to reject your ancestral homeland, you know, reject Israel, and then you'll be okay. And, you know, I visited 27 college campuses, and I kind of saw how this sometimes takes on the format of almost like a Christian conversion narrative, where it goes something like, you know, growing up, my rabbi and my parents told me Israel was perfect and amazing and a utopia. And then I got to college, and I realized that actually it's a colonialist, Nazi, racist society, and I had an epiphany. I saw the light, and I took anti-Zionism and anti-colonialism into my heart, and now I'm saved. Now I'm a good Jew. And their classmates are like, now you're a good Jew.  And as Dara Horn puts it, this kind of antisemitism involves the weaponization of shame. It involves really trying to convince Jews that there is something fundamentally shameful about some aspect of themselves, their identity, their tradition. And today, that thing is Israel. This idea that there's something fundamentally . . . it's like the original sin of the world. Manya Brachear Pashman:     And you also talk about the tradition of circumcision, and how that came up, and you found yourself explaining this to someone. Can you elaborate on that for our listeners? Which I thought was really interesting.  Sarah Hurwitz:  This was during an encounter with a patient. I was doing a chaplaincy shift, and  usually I don't tell my patients my religious background, I'm very neutral, unless they're Jewish, in which case, I do tell them I'm Jewish. But, you know, I was finishing up a conversation with this very lovely lady. And she was very curious about my background. And so I told her, you know, I'm Jewish. And her eyes kind of lit up, and she said, Oh, you know, many of my neighbors are Jewish. I've actually been to two brisses in the past month.  And she just, you know, and she was so lovely, like, she actually seemed to be just really happy to be included in this tradition of her neighbors. And I got weirdly defensive, and was like, Oh, well, you know, just so, you know, medical professionals, they say whether you circumcise or don't circumcise, it's really, it's equally safe either way. And you know, we often, you know, when we do brisses, they're often done by a medical provider.  And I'm going on and on and like, this woman did not say the slightest negative thing about this tradition, but suddenly I am defensive. Suddenly it's like, Huh, interesting. You know, I think that it was an illustration to me of the way that we can sometimes really imbibe all of the kind of negative views about Jews and Jewish traditions that are around us, and become defensive, and sometimes we don't even realize that they're there. It's almost like they're the air that we breathe. Manya Brachear Pashman:     But let me challenge that and push back a little bit. I mean, is it okay to not agree with some of the traditions of the Jewish faith and be open about your disagreement with that? I certainly know a lot of Christians who don't like things that emerge from their tradition or from their community. Is that okay? Or is it not when Judaism is threatened? Sarah Hurwitz:  So I actually do think that's okay. You know, I have no problem with that, but I think the problem in this situation was that I have no problem with circumcision, but I'm suddenly getting defensive and trying to convince this woman that it's not weird. And I'm thinking, why am I doing this? It was very interesting to me that I felt so suddenly defensive and anxious. You know, it was very surprising to me. Manya Brachear Pashman:     And similarly, it's okay to criticize Israeli policy too, right? I mean, it's totally acceptable.  Sarah Hurwitz:  Absolutely. This is the thing that I'm so confused about. Where people are saying, well, you know, you're saying that it's not okay to criticize Israel. And I'm like, I'm sorry. Have you been to Israel? It's like the national pastime there to criticize the government. I criticize the Israeli government all the time, as do millions of American Jews.  This idea that this is somehow… that we're somehow reacting to criticism of Israel, that's ridiculous. I think what we're reacting to is not criticism of Israel, but it's something else. You know, when you have students on a college campus saying from water to water, Palestine should be Arab, or Israelis are Nazis. I just, with all due respect, I don't see that as criticism. Nor would I see it as criticism if, God forbid, a Jewish student ever said from water to water, Israel should be Jewish, or, Palestinians are terrorists. That is hateful, disgusting, racist, eliminationist language. And if I ever heard a Jewish student say that, I mean, let me tell you, I would have quite a talking to with that kid.  So that's not criticism. Criticism is, I am vehemently opposed and abhor, this policy, this ideology, this action, for these reasons. That's criticism. And I think you can use real strong language to do that kind of criticism. But there's a difference between a criticism and slurs and baseless accusations. And I think we need to be just clear about that. Manya Brachear Pashman:     All right, so you just use the term from water to water instead of from river to sea. Was that on purpose? Sarah Hurwitz:  Not necessarily. It's just a clearer illustration of what I think from the river to the sea really means, you know, I think  that is the Arabic that is used. Infrom the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free. It's like, you can kind of make an argument that this is about Palestinian Liberation. And okay, fair enough. But I think when you get the from water to water, it shall be Arab, that's when I think there's less of an argument that it's about freedom, and it seems a little bit more eliminationist to me. Manya Brachear Pashman:     Interesting. I've not heard that before. But I like that. So you call antisemitism the least mysterious phenomenon. Can you please explain what you mean by that? Sarah Hurwitz:  Yeah, you know, I think, like a lot of young people, my antisemitism education was mainly just Holocaust education. And I kind of walked away thinking like, huh, how wild that the civilized world just lost its mind in the mid-20th century and started killing Jews. That's so shocking and disturbing, you know, why is that? And the answer was kind of like, well, you know, the Germans lost World War I. They blamed the Jews. There was a depression. They blamed the Jews.  And when you ask why the Jews, it's like, well, because of prejudice and scapegoating. I'm like, Okay, right. But again, why the Jews? Prejudice and scapegoating, that's the answer. It's like, well, actually, the answer really is because of 2000 years of Christian anti-Judaism that preceded that. It wasn't mysterious why the Jews were targeted.  This was a 2000-year neural groove that had been worn into the Western world psyche. And this is not my argument. This is the argument of countless Christian scholars whose brilliant work I cite. And so I think that the unfortunate thing about some forms of Holocaust education is that it leaves you with the impression that, oh, this is so mysterious, it's just kind of eternal and kind of comes out of nowhere. Or even worse, you might even think maybe we did something to deserve this. But it's not mysterious. I can show you its path through history.  And I think it's very important that Jews understand this history. And look, I think this is very hard to teach in an average American public school. Because, you know, we live in a country where, you know, saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas is very upsetting for some people. They feel very threatened and triggered by that.  So for a teacher to say, like, Okay, kids today we're going to learn about how 2000 years of Christian anti-Judaism paved the way for the Holocaust . . . I don't think that's going to go well. Even if many mainstream Christian scholars would agree that that's true, this is a challenge that we face. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So you have continued, as you said, to visit college campuses where antisemitism has been an issue since October 7, more of an issue than it even was beforehand. And yet, when you were at Harvard and Harvard Law, you've said you could have walked through Harvard Yard wrapped in an Israeli flag and no one would have said a word or reacted negatively. So what has changed, and does it signal a more general shift on campuses of kind of uncensored, unbridled speech?  In other words, if black students support black lives matter, or gay students are marching for pride, do you feel like there's a sense that students who disagree with that from either the right or the left, have kind of claimed a license to criticize that too? Sarah Hurwitz:  No. I try to explain to college students when they say, Well, okay, my campus isn't that bad, you know, I can wear my Jewish star, and I won't get, you know, harassed or ostracized. And I say, like, okay, great, if it's not that bad, I'll just wear my Israel t-shirt and we'll see how it goes. They're like, No.  And then I have to go through this long litany of like, okay, if your black classmate said to you, well, this campus isn't so bad for black students, but I can't wear my Black Lives Matter t-shirt or else I'll be harassed and ostracized. I hope you would say that's not okay, that's racism, pretty clear. Or if your queer classmate said, Well, this campus is pretty good for queer people, but I can't wear my pride t-shirt, I hope you would say, That's not pretty good. That's homophobia.  You know, when the majority feels entitled to decide how the minority can embody and express their identity, I think we have a really serious problem. And  sometimes the kids will push back on me. Well, no, no, but the problem isn't being Jewish. It's Israel. I'm like, okay, but if your Chinese American classmate wore a t-shirt that said China, even if all your classmates knew that the Chinese government had been interning a million Muslim Uighurs in camps and subjecting them to horrific human rights violations, would they harass and ostracize her?  And they're like, Well, probably not. Right, because they would assume that she has a relationship to China that maybe involves having heritage there, or maybe she studied abroad there, or maybe she's studying Chinese, maybe she has family there. I think they would assume that she has some connection to the country that doesn't involve agreeing with the policies of the Chinese government, and Jewish students on campus really aren't afforded that courtesy.  And I'll tell you, most of the Jewish students I spoke with on campus, they, like me, are extremely critical of this current Israeli government. Extremely, extremely critical. They have all sorts of criticisms about what's happening in Gaza, of the occupation.  You know, their views are quite nuanced and complex, but there is no room given for that. You know, I think on some college campuses, Israel has been put into the same bucket as the KKK and the Nazi party. So I can't say to you, look, you know, I'm a Nazi, but I'm a liberal Nazi. Or, oh, you know, I'm in the KKK, but I'm not racist. It's like, come on, right?  These are vile entities with which no connection is acceptable, period. And I think once Israel ceases to be a country and instead becomes the representation of all evil in the world, there's really no relationship that you can have with it that's acceptable. And I think that is a pretty devastating place for it to be today.  And I'll tell you, I think it's a really challenging moment right now where I, like a lot of American Jews, I'm a Zionist. I believe that Jews have a right to a safe and secure home state in their ancestral homeland. I believe we have the right to national independence and self determination, like Japanese people have in Japan and Latvians have in Latvia, and on and on. And you know, we've run that experiment of Jewish powerlessness for 2000 years, and it didn't go well. Even as late as the 20th century. It wasn't just that two thirds of Jews in Europe got wiped out because of the Holocaust.  It's that nearly a million Jews who lived in Arab lands had to flee persecution, most of them to Israel. It's that 2 million Russian Jews had to flee persecution, half of them to Israel. It's that 10s of 1000s of Ethiopian Jews, I can go on and on. So we know, we've run that experiment of Jewish statelessness, and it doesn't go well.  And at the same time, we are looking at this current Israeli government, and we are appalled. We're appalled by the ideology, we're appalled by many of the policies. And you know, for me as an American, this feels very familiar, because I love this country. I'm a proud, patriotic American, and I happen to very much disagree with the current president. I happen to be very much appalled by the current president's policies and ideology. And so, I think many people are able to hold that, but somehow it's harder with Israel, because of what is in the air right now. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So, really you're saying that antisemitism has distorted history. Distorted people's understanding of Israel's history, their understanding of modern Israel's rebirth and existence. It spawned anti-Zionism. Correct?  Sarah Hurwitz:   Yes. Manya Brachear Pashman:     Did you encounter that during your time in the Obama administration? Do you see it now, in hindsight or or is it a more recent emergence? Sarah Hurwitz:   I think this is more recent. I mean, you know, probably in some spaces it was, you know, I was in the administration from 2009 to 2017. I never once saw any kind of anti-Zionism or antisemitism. I mean, it was one of the best places to be a proud, passionate Jew. I knew my colleagues could not have been more supportive of my Jewish exploration. They were so proud when I wrote my first book.  So I never saw any of this ever, once. And I think, you know, I think what is so confusing about this is that we often think about antisemitism as a kind of personal prejudice, like, oh, you know, Jews are fill in the blank, nasty thing. They are dirty, cheap, crass. I don't want my daughter to marry one. I don't want one in my country club.  You don't really see that kind of antisemitism in the circles where I travel anymore. What you see instead is more of political antisemitism, which is antisemitism as a kind of conspiracy theory that says that we, the majority, are engaged in a grand moral project, and the only thing stopping us are these Jews. We the majority are Christianizing the Roman Empire.  The only thing stopping us, these Jews who won't convert. We the majority are bringing about the brotherhood of man, the great communist revolution. The only thing stopping us, these capitalist Jews. We the Germans, are bringing about the great, racially pure Aryan fatherland. The only thing stopping us – these race-polluting Jews.  And today in America, you see it on the right and the left. On the right, it's, you know, we white Christian Americans are bringing back white Christian civilization to America. And the only thing stopping us are these Jews who are importing black and brown immigrants to replace white people. That is the extremely racist and antisemitic theory known as the Great Replacement theory. It is an ugly, disgusting lie.  On the left you have, you know, we this very moral group of people. we are bringing about the revolution of anti-colonialism, anti-Zionism. And the only thing stopping us are these colonialist Zionists, which is a polite way of saying Jews. And so, you know, I think it's very important to understand, as Yossi Klein Halevi, the journalist, puts it, you know, what you see again and again is whatever is the worst thing in a society, that is what the Jews are deemed to be. Whatever is the worst thing among a particular population, that is what the Jews are deemed to be. And I think we're kind of seeing that on both the right and the left today. Manya Brachear Pashman:     If antisemitism defines so much, or has defined so much of Jewish identity, how do we reclaim that? How have you reclaimed that? And how have you found joy in your Jewish identity, especially after doing this book and immersing yourself and all of this extremely depressing perspective? Sarah Hurwitz:   I hear this kind of line among many Jews that breaks my heart. It's this sort of self-flagellation, of like, if we just had the right PR campaign, if we just had the right tweet, then we would fight antisemitism. It's our fault, we're doing such a bad job fighting antisemitism. And, you know, I love the ambition there. I think that is so sweet.  But there are 16 million of us in the whole world. That's with an M, million, like the size of like, the fifth largest city in China. We are a Chinese city. There are billions of people who don't really love us out there. And the idea that we, this tiny group of people, is going to somehow change the minds of billions of people. I really respect the ambition, but I think that's a tough one.  I think it's sort of like trying to bail out a tsunami with buckets. You know, if enough of us do it, I'm sure we can make a difference. And I have such respect for the people who are doing that work. I think it's very important. But I also would just suggest that maybe we should put a little more of our energy into building an ark to weather the storm.  And you know, to me, that ark is, engaging deeply with our traditions. It's reclaiming, I think, some of what we lost when we were assimilating and trying to fit in. You know, we have thousands of years of text that have such wisdom about the human condition, about how to be a good person and lead a worthy life and find profound spiritual connection. We have just so many beautiful traditions. And so I think that what we can really do is, we can be Jews. And to be a Jew has always been to be different.  That was kind of our value proposition thousands of years ago when we came along and said, hey guys, monotheism. Totally different way of thinking. We said, hey, every human being is created in the image of God, which is an idea that every human being is infinitely worthy. Which, again, this is the idea that underlies things like liberalism, democracy, human rights. These are really Earth-shatteringly different counter cultural ideas, and we have so many more of those that I still think the world needs today.  So I think that rather than just being anti-anti-semites, that we can be proud Jews instead, and we can really focus on becoming more learned, more vibrant members of our communities, you know, engaging in more of our traditions and our rituals.  I also think, you know, Dara Horn has been doing a lot of great work about educating kids about Jewish civilization. Rather than having young people only know about the Jews via the Holocaust, she really wants to teach young people about Jewish civilization, ideas, and people. I think that is a very, very powerful and very helpful idea. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So how are you doing this? How do you spend each week? How do you reclaim some of these traditions and joy? Sarah Hurwitz:    For me, it's studying. That's really how I engage, you know, I have various chavrutas or I study Jewish texts. I love reading Jewish books, and I love participating in the Jewish community. You know, I love engaging with various Jewish organizations, you know, serving on various committees, and just trying to be part of this project of reclaiming Judaism, of making it more accessible to more Jews. This is what I love doing, and I'll be starting in January. I'm actually going to be starting a rabbinic program at the Hartman Institute. It's a part time program.  And I'm not not planning to be a congregational rabbi, but I do want to keep writing books, and I am really grateful for this opportunity to get a much deeper, more thorough Jewish education than the one I've kind of given to myself, and, you know, kind of cobbled together. I think this is going to be a really extraordinary opportunity. So I'm very excited about that.  Manya Brachear Pashman:     Oh, wow. Well, congratulations. I look forward to welcoming you back to the podcast and calling you Rabbi.  Sarah Hurwitz: Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman:     Thank you so much for joining us, Sarah. Sarah Hurwitz:  Such a pleasure. Thank you for having me.   

Episode 20 of the Ask Away series of the Everyday Judaism Podcast addresses critical questions about Jewish identity, kosher laws, and Zionism in the context of modern challenges like antisemitism. Recorded post-Rosh Hashanah, the session emphasizes active questioning and sourcing Torah knowledge. Key themes include:Jewish Identity and Antisemitism: Hiding Jewishness fuels antisemitism, as nations act as divine tools to prompt Jews back to Hashem (Deuteronomy 31:16–18, per Gaon of Vilna). Publicly embracing Judaism (e.g., kosher choices) counters hostility (1:03–13:57).Role as Chosen People: Non-Jews (e.g., Costco man, Italian painters) expect Jews to visibly uphold Torah values, as prophesied (Zechariah 8:23), reinforcing the need for pride in Jewish identity (14:45–17:44).Kosher Laws: Dairy and meat can coexist in a cart or refrigerator if sealed and cold, but not cooked or eaten together, with practical precautions to avoid mixing (18:23–23:15).Zionism: True Zionism supports a Torah-observant Israel, not Herzl's secular vision, which secularized Jews (e.g., Yemenites). Anti-Zionists like Neturei Karta misjudge modern Israel's Torah-friendly environment (23:41–32:52).Meaning of Israel: “Yashar El” reflects Jews' direct connection to Hashem, taking personal responsibility without intermediaries, a core Jewish value (33:40–35:02).Please submit your questions at askaway@torchweb.org_____________The Everyday Judaism Podcast is dedicated to learning, understanding and appreciating the greatness of Jewish heritage and the Torah through the simplified, concise study of Halacha, Jewish Law, thereby enhancing our understanding of how Hashem wants us to live our daily lives in a Jewish way._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Marshall & Doreen LernerDownload & Print the Everyday Judaism Halacha Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RL-PideM42B_LFn6pbrk8MMU5-zqlLG5This episode (Ep. #67) of the Everyday Judaism Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of TORCH is dedicated to my dearest friends, Marshall & Doreen Lerner! May Hashem bless you and always lovingly accept your prayer for good health, success and true happiness!!!Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studio (B) to a live audience on October 5, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on October 29, 2025_____________Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Everyday Judaism Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-judaism-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1600622789) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3AXCNcyKSVsaOLsLQsCN1C) to stay inspired! Share your questions at askaway@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#AskAway, #Torah, #Halacha, #Q&A, #Antisemitism, #JewishIdentity, #Faith, #Resilience, #ChosenPeople, #Zionism, #Anti-Zionism ★ Support this podcast ★

Episode 20 of the Ask Away series of the Everyday Judaism Podcast addresses critical questions about Jewish identity, kosher laws, and Zionism in the context of modern challenges like antisemitism. Recorded post-Rosh Hashanah, the session emphasizes active questioning and sourcing Torah knowledge. Key themes include:Jewish Identity and Antisemitism: Hiding Jewishness fuels antisemitism, as nations act as divine tools to prompt Jews back to Hashem (Deuteronomy 31:16–18, per Gaon of Vilna). Publicly embracing Judaism (e.g., kosher choices) counters hostility (1:03–13:57).Role as Chosen People: Non-Jews (e.g., Costco man, Italian painters) expect Jews to visibly uphold Torah values, as prophesied (Zechariah 8:23), reinforcing the need for pride in Jewish identity (14:45–17:44).Kosher Laws: Dairy and meat can coexist in a cart or refrigerator if sealed and cold, but not cooked or eaten together, with practical precautions to avoid mixing (18:23–23:15).Zionism: True Zionism supports a Torah-observant Israel, not Herzl's secular vision, which secularized Jews (e.g., Yemenites). Anti-Zionists like Neturei Karta misjudge modern Israel's Torah-friendly environment (23:41–32:52).Meaning of Israel: “Yashar El” reflects Jews' direct connection to Hashem, taking personal responsibility without intermediaries, a core Jewish value (33:40–35:02).Please submit your questions at askaway@torchweb.org_____________The Everyday Judaism Podcast is dedicated to learning, understanding and appreciating the greatness of Jewish heritage and the Torah through the simplified, concise study of Halacha, Jewish Law, thereby enhancing our understanding of how Hashem wants us to live our daily lives in a Jewish way._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Marshall & Doreen LernerDownload & Print the Everyday Judaism Halacha Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RL-PideM42B_LFn6pbrk8MMU5-zqlLG5This episode (Ep. #69) of the Everyday Judaism Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of TORCH is dedicated to my dearest friends, Marshall & Doreen Lerner! May Hashem bless you and always lovingly accept your prayer for good health, success and true happiness!!!Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studio (B) to a live audience on October 5, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on October 29, 2025_____________Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Everyday Judaism Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-judaism-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1600622789) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3AXCNcyKSVsaOLsLQsCN1C) to stay inspired! Share your questions at askaway@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#AskAway, #Torah, #Halacha, #Q&A, #Antisemitism, #JewishIdentity, #Faith, #Resilience, #ChosenPeople, #Zionism, #Anti-Zionism ★ Support this podcast ★

Register here for the Live Call me Back event at the Streicker Center on Thursday Oct 23: https://t.co/Y5tCz9uXwoSubscribe here to INSIDE Call me Back: https://inside.arkmedia.orgRabbi Angela Buchdahl's book: https://tinyurl.com/4m4mrfftGift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: http://inside.arkmedia.org/giftsSubscribe to Amit Segal's newsletter ‘It's Noon in Israel': https://arkmedia.org/amitsegal/Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastCheck out Ark Media's other podcasts: For Heaven's Sake: https://lnk.to/rfGlrA‘What's Your Number?': https://lnk.to/rfGlrAFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: https://arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: https://instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: https://x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dansenorTo order Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel: https://tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdnToday's Episode: For a bonus episode, Dan was joined by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl to discuss her new book Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging. Rabbi Buchdahl is the senior rabbi at Central Synagogue in New York City. She was the first East-Asian to be ordained as a rabbi, and has received national recognition for her Jewish leadership, including being listed as one of Newsweek's “50 most influential rabbis.”She shares her journey from feeling like an outsider to Judaism to becoming a contemporary Jewish leader. They also discuss how Rabbi Buchdahl guided her congregation after Oct. 7 and how the past two years have changed the Jewish community around her. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive ProducerMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Did you know Jesus' identity is under attack? In this episode of the Curt Landry Podcast, Rabbi Curt and Darrell Puckett discuss the biblical and historical evidence for Jesus' Jewish identity, its significance, and the power of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah for all people. Jesus' Hebrew name, Yeshua, means “salvation.” It's only through the blood covering of Jesus and His salvation that we have reconciliation with God and others. God loves all people – Jews, Arabs, every tribe and tongue. He has a beautiful plan of redemption for all humanity, and when we operate in love towards one another, we testify to this hope that we have within us. Join Rabbi and Darrell as they talk about the truth about Israel's society and humanitarian aid, God's love and plan for Jews and Arabs, and how to be anchored in biblical love and truth. Resource Mentioned: Grow your faith through the One New Man app: https://app.onenewman.com Disclaimer: Curt Landry Ministries will never send you a direct message or comment asking for donations, or, request to move the conversation to Telegram or any other third-party application. Any and all donations are solely collected through our website, https://www.curtlandry.com, or, through one of our YouTube fundraisers. For tithing and giving, please visit: https://shop.curtlandry.com/donate/ Listen to The Curt Landry Podcast: https://www.curtlandry.com/podcast/the-curt-landry-podcast/ Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRSNGrZ4oXOEYHMxBkZO94A/join · Website: https://www.curtlandry.com · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curtlandryministries/ · Twitter: https://twitter.com/curtlandrymin · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curtlandrymin/ Get the resources you need to stand firm in your inheritance… · Jewish Roots Guide… https://curtlandry.com/Jewish-Roots · One New Man Guide… https://curtlandry.com/ONM-Guide · Psalm 91 Prayer… https://curtlandry.com/Psalm91Prayer · Goals to Grow… http://curtlandry.com/Goals2024

R. Marcus Rubenstein's sermon from Shabbat morning services on October 4th, 2025 at Temple of Aaron on parshat ha'azinu.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/QrN9l4AKLB0Meet us at Unholy Live NYC - October 29th, 2025 - https://streicker.nyc/events/unholy-liveFollow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/unholypodJoin our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon As world leaders gather in Manhattan for the UN General Assembly, the message is clear: growing support for Palestinian statehood. As the diplomatic clamour gets louder, Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for his own appearance on the world stage — but not before receiving a sharp satirical blow from no other than Kyle's mother of South Park.Meanwhile, New York hosts another drama. Mayor Eric Adams marks Rosh Hashana with a bold fashion statement, as his would-be successor Zohran Mamdani proves his social media game extends even to Hebrew pronunciation. Plus: a chutzpah award that may flatter its recipient, while this week's mensch proved a ratings winner. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen to Rabbi Aaron's 5786 Rosh Hashanah sermon on rethinking the way we think about our Jewish identity.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/B2BofINE4pw As Israel's ground operation in Gaza City escalates, Prime Minister Netanyahu briefly suggests the country must become economically self-sufficient — only to backtrack, rattling markets in the process. Meanwhile, cultural boycotts mount, from the Emmys to Eurovision.Yonit and Jonathan unpack the political spin, economic fallout, and the global cultural backlash. They're also joined by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl for our Rosh Hashana tradition — reflecting on moral accountability in Gaza, the meaning of the High Holy Days in wartime, and the challenge of unity in a divided Jewish world.Plus: Yonit joins from Paris, where she sat down for an interview with French President Emmanuel Macron, in which he lays out his thinking on recognition of a Palestinian state — and answers the question: why now? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Still Lives: Jewish Photography in Nazi Germany (U Pennsylvania Press, 2025) is a systematic study of the ways Jews used photographs to document their experiences in the face of National Socialism. In a time of intensifying anti-Jewish rhetoric and policies, German Jews documented their lives and their environment in tens of thousands of photographs. German Jews of considerably diverse backgrounds took and preserved these photographs: professional and amateurs, of different ages, gender, and classes. The book argues that their previously overlooked photographs convey otherwise unuttered views, emotions, and self-perceptions. Based on a database of more than fifteen thousand relevant images, it analyzes photographs within the historical contexts of their production, preservation, and intended viewing, and explores a plethora of Jews' reactions to the changing landscapes of post-1933 Germany. Ofer Ashkenazi is a Professor of History and the director of the Richard Koebner-Minerva Center for German History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. While on sabbatical, in 2025-2026 he is the Mosse Visiting Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the co-author of the recently published monograph Still Lives: Jewish Photography in Nazi Germany (2025) , as well as Anti-Heimat Cinema (2020); Weimar Film and Jewish Identity (2012); and Reason and Subjectivity in Weimar Cinema (2010). He edited volumes and published articles on various topics in German and German-Jewish history including Jewish youth movements in Germany; the German interwar anti-war movement; Cold War memory culture; Jewish migration from and to Germany; and German-Jewish visual culture. Rebekka Grossmann is Assistant Professor of Migration History at Leiden University. In her research, she explores the connections of visual culture, migration and politics with a special focus on Jewish history. Her dissertation, which will be published in 2026, investigates the role of the camera as agent, chronicler and critic of Jewish nation-building. In her new project, she looks at the entangled stories of the legacies of Jewish forced migration, post-war memory culture and peace activism through the lens of different artistic projects. Shira Miron is a PhD candidate at the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at Yale University. Her research explores aesthetics as a mode of investigation for human experience and social formation and studies the particularities of different artforms alongside their conceptual and practical cross-pollination. She pursues theoretical questions as they relate to history and culture and vice versa. Her dissertation project, Composition and Community: The Extra-Musical Imagination of Polyphony 1800/1900/1950, explores the advent of western polyphony as a modern aesthetic, communicative, and ethical phenomenon that extends beyond the field of music. Shira published on the relationship between music and literature, German-Jewish literature and culture, visual studies, theories of dialogue and communication, and on a wide range of authors including Novalis, Adorno, Kleist, and Gertrud Kolmar. Shira holds B.Mus. and M.Mus. degrees in piano performance from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and studied German literature at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and at the Freie Universität Berlin. Currently, she is a DAAD research fellow at the Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL) in Berlin. Sarah Wobick-Segev is a research associate at the Institute for Jewish Studies at the University of Hamburg. Her research explores the multiple intersections of European-Jewish cultural and intellectual history with gender studies, everyday life history, and visual and religious studies. Her current project analyzes the religious writings of Jewish women in German-speaking Central Europe from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Episode 70 of What Gives?—the Jewish Philanthropy Podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, our guest is Sarah Hurwitz, former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and the author of two widely discussed books about Jewish life and identity. Her newest book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us, challenges us to rethink how centuries of prejudice have shaped Jewish self-understanding, and why now is the time for a more confident and substantive embrace of Jewish tradition and peoplehood. Sarah spoke about what it means to live as a Jew “without apology,” why shallow or self-deprecating Jewish identities aren't enough in this moment, and how young Jews especially can ground themselves in real content and community. Take a listen.

Bibi's father wrote THE book on the Spanish Inquisition and Spain's successful persecution of the Jews, especially the sccessful (and brutal) erasure of the Jewish Identity of the Jewsforced to convert. IOW the Spanish "Holocaust"

Ofer Ashkenazi is a Professor of History and the director of the Richard Koebner-Minerva Center for German History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. While on sabbatical, in 2025-2026 he is the Mosse Visiting Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the co-author of the recently published monograph Still Lives: Jewish Photography in Nazi Germany (2025) , as well as Anti-Heimat Cinema (2020); Weimar Film and Jewish Identity (2012); and Reason and Subjectivity in Weimar Cinema (2010). He edited volumes and published articles on various topics in German and German-Jewish history including Jewish youth movements in Germany; the German interwar anti-war movement; Cold War memory culture; Jewish migration from and to Germany; and German-Jewish visual culture. Thomas Pegelow Kaplan is a Professor of History and the Louis P. Singer Endowed Chair in Jewish History at the University of Colorado Boulder in the United States. His research focuses on the linguistic, visual, and cultural history of Nazi Germany, modern German-Jewish history, historiography and historical theory, transnational history, and global protest movements in the twentieth century. His recent publications include Taking the Transnational Turn: The German Jewish Press and Journalism Beyond Borders, 1933-1943 [in Hebrew] (Yad Vashem Publications, 2023) and Holocaust Testimonies: Reassessing Survivors' Voices and their Future in Challenging Times (with Wolf Gruner, Miriam Offer, and Boaz Cohen (Bloomsbury, 2025). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Dr. E. Michael Jones is a prolific Catholic writer, lecturer, journalist, and Editor of Culture Wars Magazine who seeks to defend traditional Catholic teachings and values from those seeking to undermine them. ——— EMJ Live is every Friday at 5:00pm EST Call In - Telegram: t.me/EMichaelJonesChat?videochat Rumble: rumble.com/c/c-920885 Twitter: twitter.com/emichaeljones1 CW Magazine: culturewars.com NOW AVAILABLE!: Walking with a Bible and a Gun: The Rise, Fall and Return of American Identity: https://www.fidelitypress.org/book-products/walking-with-a-bible-and-a-gun